Bruce Cockburn writes: If there were a contest for the title of the
spookiest Christmas carol, this ought to win hands down. Collected earlier
in this century by John Jacob Niles, it hails from North Carolina. I believe it
to be of great age, though, both because of the melodic style and because of the
lyrics, which resonate with the Grail myth, and with the ancient custom of every
few years draining the blood out of one's king onto the soil to ensure its
continuing fertility.

Bruce Cockburn, christmas (Truth North Productions, 1990).

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